This report describes an evaluation of Radio Direction Finding (RDF) techniques for shore-based position location performed by the Transportation Systems Center (TSC). The evaluation consisted of the following three phases: (1) A preliminary survey to identify and classify available direction-finding techniques which could meet Coast Guard requirements; (2) An analytical modeling and error analysis of the equipment types identified in (1); (3) Field testing and demonstration of representative equipment. Major system characteristics considered in the study were; 1) Operational utility of such a system. 2) Cost to implement the system throughout the USCG. 3) Operational impact on the group level--manning and maintenance. 4) Compatibility with existing land lines and VHF-FM remoting capability. 5) Operation in a VHF-FM maritime mobile band. 6) Location of the DF antenna. 7) Ability to home on both voice and EPIRB. 8) Interference effects. It was concluded that shore-based DF is a valuable potential tool in the accomplishment of SAR mission requirements. Properly implemented shore-based DF can improve reliability and safety of the SAR function by reducing the number of off shore hours necessary to fulfill the mission requirements without increasing station manning requirements.
This report describes the development and testing of an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) which operates on Channels 15 and 16 of the...
Maritime satellite communication experiments were conducted by this Center using the NASA Applications Technology Satellite-Number 6 (ATS-6) from Sept...
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United States Department of Transportation
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